Rear shocks & ride characteristics

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Rear shocks & ride characteristics

22 posts & 11 voices | Started 6 months ago by steve_b77 | Latest reply from bigyinn

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steve_b77 - Member

At the moment I've got a DT SSD Swiss 190L rear shock on my Nicolai Helius CC.

Yesterday me and my mate went to Llandegla, he had a demo Transition Bandit with a Kashima coated RP23.

The suspension designs seem pretty similar and they both have 130mm of rear travel, we swapped bikes a couple of times and both came to the conclusion that mine was quicker to accelerate, pedalled along and climbed better, but the Bandit felt better taking hits and was smoother on the rougher stuff.

Now this got me wondering would the Nicolai benefit from a "better" rear shock such as a RP23 or a Monarch 4.2 or the like? Or am I imagining things and it's more down to the bike?

Posted 6 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

all shock tunes are a compromise - I think the DT Swiss ones tend to be done more for the 'racer' end of the spectrum. It may just be a case of getting the valving changed a bit on what you have to introduce more movement.

Posted 6 months ago #
GW - Member

every suspension bike would benefit from better suspension performance, especially if it's tailored to the bike/rider

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

Despite being different shocks and bikes you have a lot of variables, like leverage ratios, rebound tube, compression tune, sag, rebound, compression etc.

But yes buy a kashima RP23, they are damn nice.

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

Flow this is true, but the kashima coated shox are damn ugly shiny poo brown coloured

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

Flow this is true, but the kashima coated shox are damn ugly shiny poo brown coloured

Not in the flesh they're not. You have been looking at photos on the internet no doubt, with dubious white balance.

I have one here and it is damn sexy

Kashima RP23 by J@yk@y, on Flickr

Edit: Just realised you are the OP, obviously seen them in the flesh then

Posted 6 months ago #
5lab - Member

looks like shiney diarrhea to me.

could it just have been that the shocks were set to different pressure? that'd cause the effects you noted (better climbing on the one with hard pressure, more plush on the one with less)

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

Flow,

Have a gander at my first post will ya

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

Flow,

Have a gander at my first post will ya

Aye, already did

Edit: Just realised you are the OP, obviously seen them in the flesh then

Posted 6 months ago #
honourablegeorge - Member

steve_b77 - Member
Flow,

Have a gander at my first post will ya

Gander? Shiny poo?

Any eggs?

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

5lab - the sag was set on each shock as we're pretty much the same weight (to within a couple of pounds).

How much an affect would different rebound settings on each shock have?

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

How much an affect would different rebound settings on each shock have?

No offence but before you think about buying a different shock, you should learn how to set yours up correctly.

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

It's set up well, it just acts differently to the bandit with the RP23.

Guess input from a Nicolai rider with a RP23 would be more useful

Posted 6 months ago #
Russell96 - Member

Different air volumes? A lot of the Fox have the High Volume air sleeve on them to give a more linear spring rate.

Posted 6 months ago #
5lab - Member

5lab - the sag was set on each shock as we're pretty much the same weight (to within a couple of pounds).

how recently and accurately was that done though? a slight difference in pressure can make a big difference to the way the bike rides, as would compression damping (more damping makes it climb better, less makes it plusher). even if you don't have compression damping, try winding down pro pedal as this is essentially the same thing (low speed compression damping)

Posted 6 months ago #
Rorschach - Member

I had an interesting day playing with an orange 5 with a number of rp23's when the boost valve version came out.Each one with a different combination of boost valve pressure,air can volume and compression tune.Given that the the only variable was the shock tune the difference was very marked indeed!

Posted 6 months ago #
nicolaisam - Member

My mate had a Dt swiss can on his carbon Trek a few years ago.
It my opinion it was the worst shock i had ever ridden,The damping felt very basic,seemed to rely on friction of the seals to control it.
The main problem was setting the air pressure,couldnt find a setting that would be a comprimise,to stop it blowing through the travel it was to hard,to get a good suspension movement it bottomed out all the time.
I have had a few Nicolais and have one still now(FR,AC,ION),I originally had my AC running a Monarch,it was the tune that Nicolai reccomended and i didnt like it.felt dead and dull.
I am now using a CCDB coil,its heavy,but it works amazingly.
For you i would get a Monarch plus tuned to your weight and bike.Or an RP23 custom tuned.

Posted 6 months ago #
LoCo - Member

The DT and RP23 use different damping systems in addition to the design of the suspension systems being different on the two bikes.

The RP is undoubtly the better of the two shock as well. A couple of the Loco Racing riders have both DT (standard fit on the bikes) and RP's they all run RPs

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

See, coming from the suspension man himself. Now buy one.

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

Well I've got an RP3 in the shed thats off to Loco for a service & tuning to the bike.

See how I get on with that for now I thinks

Posted 6 months ago #
nicolaisam - Member

I think the RP3 has a different damping system to the RP23.
Loco will sort it i am sure.

Posted 6 months ago #
bigyinn - Member

Im waiting to send my RP3 to Loco in the new year. Full damper recharge and a bit of custom tuning.
Cant wait as my old Float RL on the bike currently feels a bit pogo sticky!

Posted 6 months ago #

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